Karen Docter's Blog, page 257
November 4, 2014
Congratulations Week 10-27-14 Giveaway Winners!
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK 10-27-14
GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with ELLA QUINN!!
Giveaway: Ella is giving away a print copy (U.S. Only) of her last release, ENTICING MISS EUGENIE VILLARET, to one lucky winner who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Thanks, Ella, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ LANA WILLIAMS!!
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**
with KELSEY BROWING & NANCY NAIGLE!!
Giveaway: Nancy & Kelsey are giving away a print copy of FIT TO BE TIED (US Only) to one lucky winner who comments on their Killer Fixin’s blog. Thanks, Nancy & Kelsey, for sharing your story and favorite recipe with us!
WINNER ~ ROBIN DRISCOLL!!
[All winners chosen by random.org. Thank you.]
November 2, 2014
**Author Peek** Interview with Joanne McDonnell
**AUTHOR PEEK** Interview with JOANNE McDONNELL
INTRODUCING…Joanne McDonnell.
Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full-time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.
I was born in north-east England in 1963, and immigrated to Australia in 1986 where I began my career in the retail industry. I lived and worked in Sydney for ten years, completing six years of tertiary education as I worked my way up the retail ladder. After 10 years in Sydney I was given an opportunity to move to Queensland and open a new store, I took that opportunity and 20 years later, am still in Brisbane, though no longer working.
I live on two acres in a lovely little valley, with my husband of ten years, and our two gorgeous German shepherds. My time is spent looking after the property, caring for my girls and writing. I read whenever I get the chance, which sadly isn’t very often now, and I love watching movies. My favourite genres, books and movies, are supernatural, fantasy, sci-fi and comedy.
1. How did you get started writing?
I guess it was really just an overload of creativity. That creativity initially raised its head when I was given my first camera at the age of nine. I loved telling stories through my photos, much to my parent’s horror; they were the ones who drove me around to my many locations and then had to foot the bill for developing the many rolls of film. I guess it wasn’t until I had to bear the burden of the development costs myself, that I discovered writing was another great way to tell my stories. Now, over 40 years later, writing and photography are still my number one passions.
2. What genre(s) do you write in and why?
My first published work is aimed at the young adult market; it is an urban fantasy novel following the lives of a small group of teenagers who discover that there are darker, more dangerous things roaming Melbourne’s nightlife than your average murderer. It was a practical decision to run with this particular idea, which had been rolling around in my head for some time, because the teen market is huge, and vampires, lycans and teenager heroes are very hot, topical subjects.
3. What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?
Mostly my girls, I have two beautiful German shepherds who are my pseudo-children. Willow Bear is nine, Alba Wolf is six and they are my constant companions. Between them they keep me in line, make sure I haven’t been sitting writing for too long and are a good sounding board for my ideas–they always like what I’ve written.
4. What is your favorite part of writing?
I just love it when my characters take control of the plot and write their own story. Then at the end of a section I re-read what I have typed and think–how on earth did that happen? Mind you, that can cause problems too; one of my main characters was killed off, even though they were to play a big part in the sequel. It seemed that Jessica, one of my other characters, really didn’t want to share the glory in book two.
5. What is your least favorite part of writing?
There will be no surprise here–writers block. We all have it, there’s no sure way around it, but we all beat it in the end.
6. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who would they be and why?
David Attenborough and Jane Goodall. You would be sure to have a life filled with amazing wildlife, phenomenal photography, stunning scenery and an abundance of writing opportunities, who could ask for more?
7. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
I’m not disciplined enough to sit down, focus and come up with an idea. They just “come to me” if I’m lucky. Alba was the catalyst for one of my characters. I was watching her one moonlit night stalking something across the paddock and I imagined myself in her body, tapping into her senses. I could feel the grass under my paws, smell the hare in the distance and feel wind rushing through my coat. Oh–how wonderful it would be. Back in the real world, I began to develop one of my characters and when you read the description of the Lycans eyes in my book, you’ll find yourself looking into Alba’s. Oh, and I sometimes find inspiration in the bottom of a bottle of red.
8. Tell me about your ideal reader.
I think my ideal reader would be someone who is willing to believe the unbelievable and to be able to immerse themselves fully in the story. I’d like my readers to relate to at least one of the characters and to be able to love/hate others. On the flip side, I want to give my readers a good story that keeps them turning the page, and when it’s finished, makes them yearn for more. But I guess most of that depends on how well I have told my story. Let’s hope I’ve done a good enough job.
9. What is your “go to” routine that helps you get in the mood to write? Special beverage? Music? Etc.
I’m not a routine sort of person and a lot depends on the stage of the story and how fluid my writing is. If I’m struggling, I like to have the TV going in the background; it gives me something other than my blank screen to stare at. If I am on a roll, then the radio will go on, I guess I like the background noise even though most of the time I don’t even hear it. I write in different places around my home, at the moment I’m sitting at the breakfast bar, looking out of the windows across the valley (very pretty). Depending on the time of year, I follow the sun or shade around the outside of the house and you can find me in one of three of my favourite writing spots.
10. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?
“A Taste of the Past” is the second book in the ‘Reality Bites’ trilogy. This book has a more complicated plot and a stronger romance thread, the first book having set the scene and introduced the characters. In “A Taste of the Past” Rosie has come to terms with her loss and her heritage, she can no longer deny her feelings for her eternal soul-mate and their passion is ignited. But while Rosie embraces her love, Jessica finds herself being pursued by a vampire, (one we all know from book 1) who is determined to make her his own, no matter what the cost, creating a living nightmare for her.
The second book also offers challenges for the vampires. They have found themselves looking for a new home, they are hungry and dissatisfied and this has resulted in a small breakaway group named the Dispossessed. The Dispossessed are a problem for both the vampires and the humans, they have thrown caution to the wind and are killing and feeding freely with no regard to the vampires code of secrecy. The Dispossessed are the reason that the teenagers find themselves working side by side with vampires in an attempt to bring down the Dispossessed. It’s an uncomfortable but necessary alliance.
As well as the physical encounters, I’ve given the teenagers a few more emotional challenges in this book, and they will have to dig deep mentally and physically if they are to survive, prevent the mass murders of humans and preserve the secrecy of the vampires. At this stage there is no telling who will survive to continue on into “A Taste of the Future” (But I’m going to try to keep Jess away from the keyboard).
The plan is to release “A Taste of the Past” by the end of the year, fingers crossed.
~~~~~~~
Links to Joanne’s website, blog, books, etc.
http://www.joannemcdonnell.com.au
http://albawolf.blogspot.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/JoanneMcDonnellAuthor
http://www.amazon.com/Taste-Reality-Bites-ebook/dp/B00I0UXA7C
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BE SURE TO COME BACK to read more about Joanne, her new release, and an excerpt from A TASTE OF REALITY (Book One of the Reality Bites Trilogy), on Wednesday’s Karen’s Killer Book Bench. Happy Reading!
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Joanne is giving away ebook copies of A TASTE OF REALITY to up to five (5) lucky winners who comment on her Interview or Killer Book Bench blogs. Don’t miss this chance to read Joanne’s new story. Thanks, Joanne, for sharing your newest release with us!
November 1, 2014
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: November Subscriber Giveaway #Winner!
Time to announce the NOVEMBER #WINNER of my Monthly Blog Subscriber Giveaway, where special readers can have a read or coffee — two of my favorite things — on me!!!
JOHN DILLON…
you have won a $5 gift card from Amazon or Starbucks (your choice)! I’ll contact you privately to arrange for delivery of your gift.
Readers ~ If you missed this month’s giveaway, you can still subscribe to my blog at http://www.karendocter.com/ to get my blogs delivered straight to your email and be entered EACH MONTH into a random drawing for #FREE $5 gift card. On the first of each month, I’ll draw one name at www.random.org from all of my subscribers to receive the card.
More wonderful perks to subscribing to my blog? The blogs, when they appear in your Inbox, are pretty and easy to read. You can discover new authors, recipes and reader fun!
Thanks…and good luck!!
Karen/K.L.
October 30, 2014
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Nancy Naigle & Kelsey Browning
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with NANCY NAIGLE & KELSEY BROWNING!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing authors, NANCY NAIGLE & KELSEY BROWNING, and their favorite recipe for NANOO’S MOON CAKE!
FIT TO BE TIED
The Granny Series
By KELSEY BROWNING & NANCY NAIGLE
Book Blurb
Honey, these are not your momma’s grannies…
Lillian Summer Fairview is settling right nice into the federal pen. She’s even making peace with Big Martha, the toughest broad on the cellblock.
After hearing Lil’s granny friends recently took down a swindler, Big Martha asks Lil for a favor. Her niece has fallen for a guy she met online, and Martha’s convinced Mr. Too-Good-To-Be-True is up to no good. All Lil’s friends have to do is a little look-see on the guy and report back. But when they poke around, they find the guy doesn’t really exist, and that triggers a wild ride through the world of online dating.
Meanwhile, a cantankerous septic system on Lil’s family estate in Summer Shoals, GA has the grannies fit to be tied. If Summer Haven isn’t in shipshape before the historic society’s inspection, they’ll be in deep you-know-what.
Big Martha sweetens the deal by promising to fix what ails Summer Haven if the grannies can find the elusive Romeo.
Will the grannies track him down before the inspection, or will they find themselves in trouble right up to their granny panties?
About the authors…Kelsey Browning & Nancy Naigle.
Kelsey Browning writes sass kickin’ love stories and co-authors Southern cozy mysteries. She’s also a co-founder of Romance University blog, one of Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. Originally from a Texas town smaller than the ones she writes about, Kelsey has also lived in the Middle East and Los Angeles, proving she’s either adventurous or downright nuts. These days, she hangs out in northeast Georgia with Tech Guy, Smarty Boy, Bad Dog and Pharaoh, a (fingers crossed) future therapy dog. For info on her upcoming single title releases, drop by www.KelseyBrowning.com.
Also by Kelsey Browning::
TEXAS NIGHTS Series
Book 1:: Personal Assets
Book 2:: Running the Red Light
Book 3:: Problems in Paradise
Book 4:: Designed For Love
Nancy Naigle writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense. Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Nancy now calls North Carolina home. She’s currently at work on the next book in The Granny Series, and a new women’s fiction novel. Stay in touch with Nancy on Facebook, twitter or subscribe to her newsletter on her website ~ http://www.NancyNaigle.com
Also by Nancy Naigle:
The Adams Grove Series
Book 1:: Sweet Tea and Secrets
Book 2:: Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes
Book 3:: Out of Focus
Book 4:: Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies
Book 5:: Mint Juleps and Justice
Book 6:: Barbecue and Bad News
Young Adult Mystery
inkBLOT – co-written with Phyllis Johnson
Short Works
Wrapped Around Your Heart Three short stories of
Pretty Little Liars #1: The PAth To RelAxAtion
Pretty Little Liars #2: The LiArs LAir
Pretty Little Liars #3: Secret TAlents
~~~
Links to Nancy’s & Kelsey’s website, blog, books, etc.
Author Links:
www.TheGrannySeries.com
www.twitter.com/nancynaigle
www.twitter.com/kelseybrowning
https://www.facebook.com/nancy.naigle
https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/kelseybrowning
https://www.facebook.com/KelseyBrowningAuthor
Email Newsletter Sign-Up via www.TheGrannySeries.com
I hope you enjoy the recipe Nancy & Kelsey sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 168 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NANOO’S MOON CAKE
Since Nancy and I are both from the South, it probably comes as no surprise that food is pretty darned important to us. When we’re not eating, we’re either talking about food or writing yummy foods and drinks into our Granny Series stories (well, maybe not Sera’s tofu fajitas…).
During book two in The Granny Series, Fit to Be Tied, the grannies throw a big old birthday party for native Texan, Abby Ruth Cady. Lucky for Abby Ruth, her daughter and grandson come down to Georgia from Boston to celebrate with her. And even luckier, her daughter bakes Abby Ruth’s most favoritest chocolate cake.
Abby Ruth’s birthday cake is a reference to my family’s most favoritest chocolate cake. The one my mom used to bake. In fact, when my nephews and sister were visiting in August, we cooked not one but TWO of these cakes. That’s how delicious they are. So to honor my mom and Abby Ruth Cady, I’m sharing with you…
NANOO’S MOON CAKE:
Cake Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 sticks margarine (Nanoo always used the fake stuff, but I use unsalted butter.)
1 cup water
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk (You can also use that powdered buttermilk you find in the baking aisle. Just mix up enough for a half cup.)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cocoa Frosting Ingredients
1/4 cup cocoa
6 Tablespoons evaporated milk (Why evaporated, I’m not 100% sure, but I say don’t mess with a good thing.)
1/2 cup margarine
1 pound confectioner’s sugar
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pecans, chopped (Just eyeball this based on how nutty your family is likes it.)
Cake Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. In saucepan, combine cocoa, margarine, and water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. (Seriously people, stay with it because this stuff is WAY too good to burn.)
Remove from heat and pour over dry ingredients. With a hand mixer, beat at highest speed until well mixed. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat well. Pour into greased and floured (you can “flour” your pan with cocoa powder, which keeps your cake from being white around the edges) 13”x9”x2″ baking pan. The batter will be thin so don’t worry!
Bake about 20 minutes or until well done. (I recommend using a toothpick or wooden skewer to test for doneness.)
Let cool a bit, then top with Cocoa Frosting. (If you pour the frosting on too soon, it’ll slide right off to the edges. Still tastes good, but not as pretty.)
Frosting Directions
In saucepan, combine cocoa, milk and margarine. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Keep warm and add sifted confectioner’s sugar, salt and vanilla. Blend well and pour over cake. Sprinkle with nuts.
My recommendation is to bake this cake when you’re expecting company. Otherwise, you might be tempted to sit down with a fork and eat the whole darned thing yourself!
Oh, and you’re wondering why it’s called a “moon cake,” right? Well, it’s because my mom simply could not make this thing without having it crater. Doesn’t matter if it’s ugly, though, because it tastes just like heaven!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Nancy & Kelsey are giving away a print copy of FIT TO BE TIED (US Only) to one lucky winner who comments on their Killer Fixin’s blog. Don’t miss this chance to read this great story! Thanks, Kelsey and Nancy, for sharing your new release and recipe with us!
October 28, 2014
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Madeleine’s Christmas Wish by Ella Quinn
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
MADELEINE’S CHRISTMAS WISH
By ELLA QUINN
Book Blurb
The bachelors in Ella Quinn’s Marriage Game series make a habit of resisting the irresistible. But during the season for giving, surrendering to temptation may be the greatest gift of all…
A French spy, Georges, Marquis Cruzy-le-Châtel, has lived in England for years, sacrificing his life for his country—but not his heart. For he’s never been able to forget his childhood friend, Madeleine. And now, in her hour of need, he is there to rescue her…
The victim of a ruthless statesman, Madeleine, Comtesse du Beaune, has been abducted and sent to England to work in a brothel. Her greatest wish is to return home for Christmas, and her only hope of it is to marry Georges—though she will be his wife in name alone. Yet as they steal across the snowy countryside, Georges decides to woo her—with kisses that melt the winter’s frost and leave her longing for a holiday miracle…
Praise for The Temptation of Lady Serena
“This charming, sweet love story is the perfect addition to the Marriage Game series.” –RT Book Reviews
30,600 Words
MADELEINE’S CHRISTMAS WISH
By ELLA QUINN
Excerpt
As soon as the door closed behind them, Madeleine placed her cup down. “We must speak.”
“Indeed.” He sauntered to the sideboard, poured two glasses of wine, and gave her one, placing the other on a small side table.
His eyes warmed, and her heart began to flutter. Then he dropped fluidly to one knee, and took her hand. “Madeleine, will you do me the great honor of being my wife.”
It was as if all the breath had been sucked from her body. “What! We . . . I cannot. You know I must first see to Maman and Genevieve.”
“And you shall.” He met Madeleine’s gaze, and she was unable to break his spell. “I will fetch them and bring them here.”
“No, I must go with you.” Just because his father left their estate did not mean she would do the same. Georges could escort her mother and sister to England, where they would be protected if another revolution started. She would remain in Beaune.
His lips thinned to a straight line, yet his tone was gentle, as if he was speaking to an idiot. “I will not allow you to put your life at risk.”
“You cannot stop me.” She raised her chin. Let him try. She had enough money to travel on her own if need be.
Georges was silent for several moments. “Very well. You may accompany me.”
She swallowed the sarcastic remark on her tongue. A victor does not rub the opponent’s nose in the dirt. “Thank you.”
“Under one condition.” His tone was unrelenting, and his face could have been carved from stone.
“What provision?”
“We wed before we leave.”
“No!” Madeleine wanted to pummel him, but the blasted man was still on one knee. She tried to pull her hand away, yet he held it firmly. “You are mad.”
“Probably.” Georges grinned. “Still that is the only way I will take you with me.”
Why was he being so difficult? “I do not understand your reasoning.”
“Unless you plan on bringing your English maid, and we can find a chaperone, I can protect your reputation only if you are my wife.”
The thought of dragging Andrews through France did not sit well. Madeleine might be in danger and she would not involve the maid. When she had left Beaune, Jeanne, her mother’s lady’s maid, had come with her. She was middle-aged and the least likely to be molested. She also had enough sense to find her way home. “I see your point. I would like Andrews to continue to work for me, but I doubt she will wish to leave her home.” Madeleine took a breath. “I shall wed you before we leave as long as you meet my stipulation.”
Leave it to Madeleine to throw his words back at him. “Which is?”
“We will not consummate the marriage until my family is safe.”
Bloody hell.
About the author, Ella Quinn…
Ella Quinn lived all over the United States, the Pacific, Canada, England and Europe before finally discovering the Caribbean. She lives on a sailboat St. Thomas, Virgin Islands with her wonderful husband of over thirty years, two bossy cats and a loveable Portuguese Water Dog. Ella loves when friends connect with her.
~~~
Links to Ella’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: www.ellaquinnauthor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Blog http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpresscom
Amazon http://amzn.to/1rArJYL
Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1mSNzPO
iTunes http://bit.ly/1pHH1Is
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Ella is giving away a print copy (U.S. Only) of her last release, ENTICING MISS EUGENIE VILLARET, to one lucky winner who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Don’t miss this chance to read this great story! Thanks, Ella, for sharing your new release with us!
October 27, 2014
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: His Road Home by Anna Richland
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
HIS ROAD HOME
By ANNA RICHLAND
Book Blurb
Special Forces medic Rey Cruz needs to find a fiancée, fast, to avoid insulting a matchmaking Afghan warlord. Finding a picture online of a girl he barely knew back home, he fakes an engagement photo, thinking no one else will see it. But when Rey is injured while rescuing a local boy, the image no one was supposed to see goes viral.
Seattle marine biologist Grace Kim is shocked to find out she’s engaged. When she’s offered a plane ticket to visit her “fiancé,” she takes it, looking for the answer to one question: Why did he lie? A traumatic brain injury means Rey can’t tell her, until they figure out how to communicate. Touched by Rey’s funny texts and determination, Grace offers friendship—a big step for someone who prefers whales to most company.
And when Rey is finally sent home, Grace agrees to help him drive his classic car cross-country over Thanksgiving—a once-in-a-lifetime road trip that leads to what feels like real love. In front of his friends and family, she plays the caring fiancée, but what place will Grace have in Rey’s new life once he’s ready to be on his own again?
Released October 13, 2014
Carina Press
HIS ROAD HOME
By ANNA RICHLAND
Excerpt
Editor’s Note: Since this is a PG-13 site, some language has been edited.
“Dostum’s willing to provide twenty men for fighting season,” Abdullah explained their host’s soliloquy, “but first he wants a more permanent relationship with Americans.”
“What the f(*k does he think thirteen years and five hundred billion dollars are? No one-night hookup.” In contrast to his words, Cruz smiled. He’d shared tea with the old man often enough to know the game.
“I’ll rephrase that.”
“Why we haul you around, amigo.”
As the terp listened to the reply, his shoulders tightened and his eyes flicked from the dozen tribesmen squatting around the compound, to the weapons stacked throughout the open courtyard and to the gate. Abdullah’s body language was subtle, but Cruz lived or died by noticing a trickle of gravel or a faraway glint of sun on metal.
When Abdullah began to translate, Cruz was ready for word of renewed insurgency or allied losses. “It has been my privilege to work with your fine American team, and Allah blessed me with two healthy sons last year due to the generous and great American doctor you brought. I desire to repay the blessing.”
Not the bad news he’d been expecting, but his interpreter still looked tense.
“I understand Sergeant Cruz is unmarried.” Abdullah shared the tribal leader’s words. “I humbly offer him one of my daughters.”
While Dostum watched like a one-eyed, toothless cupid cradling an AK-47 instead of a bow and arrow, Cruz forced himself to obey the rules for breathing before a five-mile high parachute jump: inhale steadily, no gulps, no matter what instinct urged, no matter that he could barely keep his lips from puckering with rejection. “That’s—”
“Shut up.” Abdullah’s voice quavered. “He’s giving you a gift that matters a hell of a lot to him and in his mind, doing you a favor. Half these men can’t afford to get married, and if you throw his daughter in his face, the insult might make them open fire.”
The air stopped moving except for two flies close to Cruz’s cheek. An insider attack: when a local soldier snaps and kills his allies. Green-on-blue, briefings called it.
“Get me out of it.” He missed his former teammate Wulf’s interpreting skill like a guy missed his nuts. He disliked giving so much power to someone the team had known for six months but saw no choice. “Whatever you have to say.” He tried to smile, but his lips were too dry to peel away from his teeth.
Undershirts always soaked through, the price of wearing more than forty pounds of protective gear, but now sweat chilled on his skin. The sun was a joke, making those weapons shiny enough to reflect glare, but not providing a bit of warmth.
The two men talked while he watched a fighter in a striped vest, the man whose hands were closest to his rifle. Target one if this went to hell. Shoot, roll left to cover Abdullah and count on the rest of the team to roar through the gate and clean the courtyard. One on twelve for ninety seconds, survivable only on paper.
He didn’t have to field test the plan. His terp pulled a save from the faded Tigers hat that never left his head.
“Relax, lover boy.” Abdullah flung an arm across his shoulders.
Cruz wasn’t sure whose pits gave off the worst funk; his, the man hugging him or the two Afghans bringing them tea, flatbread and lentil paste.
“Told Dostum you’re engaged to a nice girl back home—”
An Afghan with a miraculous mouth of teeth pounded Cruz on the back to dislodge the bread stuck in his windpipe choking him. “What?”
“And because American law doesn’t allow two wives, you regretfully cannot accept this honor, but you’ll bring gifts next week to show how much you appreciate his generosity.”
“Great. We’ll haul a pallet of rice, but don’t let him think he’s getting weapons.” Wily bastard might have set up the incident to bag more rocket-propelled grenade launchers. “If proud papas start offering me wives but settle for swag, I know who to blame.”
Abdullah raised his hands, palms out as if to deny his responsibility, then laughed as he turned them into finger-pistols pointed right at Cruz.
“By the way, he expects a photo. He wonders what kind of woman American soldiers marry.”
“No problem.” A fake fiancée. He’d almost rather risk the business end of an AK-47.
***
A week later, keyboard clicks were the only sound in the Special Ops ready room at Camp Cadwalader. Most of the team was enjoying hot chow before they bugged out for six days, but Kahananui and his laptop had stayed with Cruz.
“Found a fiancée yet? It’s surf-n-turf night.” His best friend unplugged and stretched, ready to desert him for the dining facility’s best meal.
“Deciding between three or four.” The skin and alcohol displayed by women in his social networks would offend Dostum, and he’d dangle from a Chinook by his short hairs before he’d pretend to be engaged to Brittney. She was probably banging SEAL Team Six. More power to her, but he wasn’t using her picture. Last winter he’d claimed brains was his new chick criteria, but of course he’d gone right back to hump-bunnies while home at Fort Campbell.
“You got nothing.” The big Hawaiian stared over his shoulder at the thumbnail photos.
“Give me a picture of Jewel.” Like the rest of the team except for Bama Boy and Abdullah, Kahananui advertised matrimonial bliss.
“No can do, brah. One look at my lady, and Dostum would know your skinny ass wasn’t man enough for her.”
“Whipped.” Married guys never helped a buddy with lady trouble, even trouble with imaginary ladies. Worse, they got laid more often than he did.
“Roger that.” Kahananui gave him a thumb and finger shaka sign and left.
His stomach begged to follow, but he had to identify a plausible fiancée. This trip included embedded reporters accompanying the team, so he couldn’t use a porn star or a celebrity, and picking a random army woman had at least a dozen downsides. He needed a civilian.
Twenty-nine years old, and he didn’t have a female friend to ask for help.
Given he’d spent eleven years in the service, mostly in training or deployed, he quit thinking and searched photos from Pateros High.
His older sister’s former volleyball team provided an ideal candidate: Grace Kim. He’d heard she went to the University of Washington for a science degree, maybe a Ph.D. His hometown’s population was less than seven hundred, but he’d bet she hadn’t known him. She’d been older and always studying. A girl like her wouldn’t remember a Mexican kid who picked apples after school and dropped out to enlist.
Grace Kim, his fingers typed. The internet offered the curious so much more than porn. Imagine, she worked at the National Marine Fisheries Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle. The white blouse and navy suit in her biographical photo looked more serious than those old team knee socks. Her dark hair, an even length around her chin, made her face look rounder. She appeared smart, successful and sober, the type of fiancée whose picture wouldn’t insult Dostum.
He mashed her photo and one of his promotion packet portraits in full uniform into a digital layout, then added images of rings and roses to make it almost as elaborate as the celebration banners Afghans made, although without the gold script. The color printer the team had liberated from heroin smugglers last summer did a bang-up job on photos.
Using a blue pen, he personalized the corner: For my dearest Reynaldo. I remember walking under the apple blossoms with you. A woman with a doctorate wouldn’t draw a smiley face like Brittney had on her one and only letter, so he finished with Love, Grace.
Fastest engagement in history. Cheapest, too. Didn’t have to buy a single dinner.
About the author, Anna Richland…
Anna lives with her quietly funny Canadian husband and two less quiet children in a century-old house in Seattle. Like the heroine of her debut paranormal romantic suspense novel, First to Burn, Anna joined the army to pay tuition, a decision that led to a career on four continents.
She donates a portion of her book proceeds to two charities: the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free accommodations near military hospitals for families of wounded soldiers in the US and Great Britain, and Doctors Without Borders, which delivers emergency medical care in more than sixty crisis zones world-wide.
To sign up for Anna’s newsletter and find out about her next release, The Second Lie (The Immortal Vikings, Book Two), visit her website at www.annarichland.com
~~~
Links to Anna’s website, blog, books, etc.
Link to Follow Tour:
http://www.tastybooktours.com/2014/08/his-road-home-by-anna-richland.html
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22446829-his-road-home?from_search=true
AUTHOR INFO:
Website: http://www.annarichland.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnaRichlandAuthor
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7440825.Anna_Richland
Buy Links
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-road-home-anna-richland/1119740513?ean=9781426899126
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/his-road-home
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/his-road-home/id903769456?mt=11
Google Play: http://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anna_Richland_His_Road_Home?id=IbbSAwAAQBAJ
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**
Don’t miss this chance to read this great story! Thanks, Anna, for sharing your new release with us!
October 26, 2014
Congratulations Week 10-13-14 & 10-20-14 Giveaway Winners!
CONGRATULATIONS WEEK 10-13-14 & 10-20-14
GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with HEATHER HEYFORD!!
Giveaway: Heather is giving away a digital copy of A TASTE OF CHARDONNAY to one lucky winner who comments on her Killer Book Bench blog. Thanks, Heather, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ KATIE SCHOENDUBE!!
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s with STACY FINZ!!
Giveaway: Stacy is giving away a digital copy of GOING HOME to one lucky winner who comments on her Killer Fixin’s blog. Thanks, Stacy, for sharing your story and favorite recipe with us!
WINNER ~ TINA PETERSON!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with T. STRANGE!!
Giveaway: T. is giving away an ebook copy of AMBER to one lucky winner who comments on her Interview or Killer Book Bench blogs. Thanks, T., for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ bn100!!
Karen’s Killer Book Bench with JULIETTE CROSS!!
Giveaway: Juliette is giving away an ebook copy of SOULFIRE to one lucky winner who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Thanks, Juliette, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ Glenda!!
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Karen’s Killer Fixin’s with MELISSA McCLONE!!
Giveaway: Melissa is giving away a swag mini-pack with an autographed book from her backlist, $5 Starbucks gift card and swag (bookmark, recipe & cookie cutter, etc.) to one lucky winner who comments on her Killer Fixin’s blog. Thanks, Melissa, for sharing your story with us!
WINNER ~ KATE SPARKS!!
[All winners chosen by random.org. Thank you.]
October 23, 2014
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special** with Melissa McClone
Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **AUTHOR SPECIAL** with MELISSA McCLONE!
Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, MELISSA McCLONE, and her favorite recipe for SANTA FE SALAD!
KISS ME, COWBOY
By MELISSA McCLONE
Book Blurb
She didn’t mean to kiss him…
When dude ranch wrangler Charlotte – aka Charlie – Randall kisses Zack Harris in an act of empathy, she falls hat over spurs for the handsome military veteran turned cowboy. Zack has too many demons, however, and refuses to get involved. A year later, he’s still stonewalling, and Charlie needs to move on with her life so she can find a fulfilling relationship, not frustrating unrequited love. Putting distance between them seems the best way to get Zack out of her head and heart…but that means quitting the job she loves and accepting a position in Colorado.
He didn’t mean to kiss her back…
Growing up, Zack longed for a real family, and had one with his squad while deployed in Afghanistan. Now, he’s back in the States and doesn’t want anything messing up his new ranch family, no matter how much he’s attracted to the sexy, hard-working Charlie. She could break his heart and ruin the comfortable working relationship they and the other wranglers enjoy. Besides, her friends claim she’s looking for the perfect guy, and perfect he’s not
A kiss is just a kiss…or is it?
When Zack learns Charlie’s thinking about leaving the ranch, he decides to find her a boyfriend — someone so good, so perfect, she has a reason to stay in Montana. Until he realizes too late that the only cowboy he wants her kissing is him. Can he commit to love and convince Charlie not to leave? Or has she made up her mind to put the past, and the kiss that started it all, behind her and move on without him?
~~~
Hands-on Ranch Research
for
Kiss Me, Cowboy
with
Melissa McClone
I’m so happy to be on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s blog today! Karen and I go way back. I’ve known her longer than I’ve known my husband and we’ll be celebrating our 20th anniversary next year.
My release Kiss Me, Cowboy features a cowboy hero named Zack. There’s also Charlotte, a cowgirl heroine who goes by Charlie. Both work as wranglers at a dude ranch in Montana called the Bar V5. I did a little hands-on ranch research this summer. After a long day trail riding or driving cattle, you need two things—a shower and a hearty meal! Doesn’t matter if you’re a cowboy, cowgirl or guest!
By the time we finished a cattle drive I was starving. Tired and sore, too. Muscles I didn’t know existed ached. Walking normally was impossible. And I was covered in a mix of dirt and sweat with a few branches and leaves tossed in there from riding through trees and shrubs.
After a long day of riding and work, the thought of any kind of food sets your stomach grumbling. Pretty much anything would taste like an award-winning meal at that point! But at a ranch like the Bar V5, the food is as much a draw to guests as the activities, so I thought I’d put together a meal you might find served after a day on the trail!
Dinner at the Bar V5
Appetizers:
Cheese plate with crackers and sliced pears
Chips with Salsa and Guacamole
Beverages:
Strawberry lemonade
Iced Tea
Beer
Dinner:
Tossed Green Salad with poppyseed dressing
Santa Fe Salad (recipe below)
Baked Potato
Smoked brisket
Rolls & cornbread
Dessert:
Texas Sheet Cake
Fresh berries with whipped cream
Think that would fill you up after a long day on horseback? I would have loved to have a meal like this when I was up at cowboy camp, but we made do with soft tacos and campfire hobo stew. Our first stop after we left the ranch and made the hour drive to the nearest town was a coffee shop! A breakfast burrito had never tasted so good! I left very little on my plate. What do you think would taste good after a day of horseback riding?
About the author…Melissa McClone.
Melissa McClone has published over thirty novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She has also been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house.
~~~
Links to Melissaa’s website, blog, books, etc.
Website: http://www.melissamcclone.com
FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/MelissaMcClon...
Twitter: @melissamcclone
Purchase link:
http://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Cowboy-Mon...
I hope you enjoy the recipe Melissa is sharing with us today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy eating!
Karen
P.S. We’re at 167 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note from Melissa: This recipe, from my friend Annemarie, feeds a crowd. There are many variations of it on the Internet, so do a quick search if you don’t like certain ingredients in this one. The first time I made this was for a Texas Hold’em Party & BBQ. It was a big hit.
SANTA FE SALAD
[Serves 8 as a side dish]
Salad:
3 cups corn (I use canned)
2 15 oz. cans of black beans
2 medium zucchini chopped
2 avocado chopped
2 red bell peppers chopped
2 small red onions chopped
Dressing:
4 small green onions
1 cup cilantro chopped
1 cup fresh lime juice (I use bottled lime juice)
2 tbsp oil
1 tpsp sugar
1 jalepeno pepper
1 tpsp salt
Put all dressing ingredients into blender and blend! Dressing will be green! Pour over salad and toss!
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Melissa is giving away a swag mini-pack with an autographed book from her backlist, $5 Starbucks gift card and swag (bookmark, recipe & cookie cutter, etc.) to one lucky winner who comments on her Killer Fixin’s blog. Don’t miss this chance to read this great story! Thanks, Melissa, for sharing your new release and recipe with us!
October 22, 2014
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Soulfire by Juliette Cross
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
SOULFIRE
A Nightwing Novel
By JULIETTE CROSS
Book Blurb
In a world divided by prejudice and hatred, only love can bridge the chasm.
Tensions are rising in the Gladium Province. The boundary between humans and Morgons has begun to blur. While the human aristocracy strives to maintain distance between their daughters and the dragon-hybrid race, fate has other plans.
As the daughter of the corporate king, Jessen Cade is duty-bound to honor her arranged marriage to a man she detests. Feeling trapped by family duty and a loveless future, she longs for more, straying to the Morgon side of the city.
Lucius Nightwing is the eldest son of the powerful Morgon clan, and the greatest enemy of Jessen’s father. When a bar-room brawl thrusts Jessen into his arms, his dragon roars to the surface, craving to sate his carnal hunger in the brown-eyed beauty. The beast in Lucius recognizes her as his own, even if the man refuses to admit the truth.
SOULFIRE
A Nightwing Novel
By JULIETTE CROSS
Excerpt
I moved into the moonlight. He remained in the shadows. I could feel his eyes on me as I watched Morgons land on rooftops, coming home for the evening. “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
In my secret study of Morgons, I’d learned they aged much slower than humans, their lifespan double, sometimes triple a human’s. This also made it difficult to judge their age, since someone who looks twenty could actually be fifty or sixty. He didn’t answer. I turned to face him, his expression unreadable.
“I’m twenty-seven.” A smile creased his face. “Why are you curious?”
“Oh, no reason. I just wondered if you were like fifty. That would be a little weird if you were my father’s age or something.”
He studied me for a painfully long moment. “If you’re having some kind of romantic ideas…don’t.”
The prickly tone in his words sparked something in me. “Why’s that? Human women too distasteful for you?”
“No.” Voice deep and gravelly. “You’re too soft. I’d break you…princess.”
He was goading me on purpose. Why? He’d moved barely out of the dark, light gleaming over the contours of his wings, gilding the edges silver. I walked around him in a circle. He swiveled with me.
“Would you mind if I looked at your wings? I’ve never seen any this close.”
He paused. “Be my guest.”
Giving me his profile, he unfolded his wings wider, allowing me to observe more closely.
I marveled at the thick-boned structure, the criss-cross of barely visible veins, and the subtle beauty of swirling ridges. They looked like they’d been molded by an artist’s hands. Unable to help myself, I reached out and traced along the arch at his shoulder, the texture velvety under my fingertips. Lucius quivered, but didn’t move away. I drew my hand back, realizing I’d stepped over a line. He said I could look, not touch. The sane side of me thought that wise.
He twisted to face me, granite features unreadable. Time stretched where neither of us spoke a word, falling trancelike into each other under the moonlight.
When he lifted a hand toward my face, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, wanting his touch in that moment more than I’d wanted anything. He trailed the back of his fingers and knuckles across my cheek, along my jaw, under my chin, down the slope of my neck to the hollow between my collarbones.
“Maybe you are a goddess.” Words husky in his throat. He traced back up with languorous, long fingers, as if learning my face by touch. “A witch, more like.”
“Witches aren’t real.” My voice sounded detached, like it wasn’t mine. I was lost in shadows and sky-blue eyes.
“No? Then why do I feel like I’m under a spell, as if something is gripping me, and I’m helpless to free myself.” His voice dipped impossibly lower, more growl than words, his fingers lulling me.
“Why are you angry?” For surely the fire in his eyes and his words meant anger.
“I have the compelling need to press my lips to yours. To see if they taste as sweet as they look. I don’t want to, and yet”—he brushed the pad of his thumb along my lower lip, then the top—“I’ve never kissed a human woman.”
My breath came shallow and quick. “I’ve never kissed a Morgon man.”
He bent his head mere inches from mine. Pressing down on my chin, he forced my lips apart. “Until now.”
About the author, Juliette Cross…
Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance–brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.
~~~
Links to Juliette’s website, blog, books, etc.
Buy Links for Soulfire:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soulfire-juliette-cross/1120138661?ean=9781616505615
Author Links:
Website: https://www.juliettecross.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecros...
Blog: http://www.juliettecross.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/crossjuliette/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: Juliette is giving away an ebook copy of SOULFIRE to one lucky winner who comments on her Karen’s Killer Book Bench blog. Don’t miss this chance to read this great story! Thanks, Juliette, for sharing your new release with us!
October 21, 2014
Karen’s Killer Book Bench: Amber by T. Strange
KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!
AMBER
By T. STRANGE
Book Blurb
Anthony was a painter until he lost the ability to see color. Worse than color blindness, the edges of objects and people blur together, making it almost impossible for Anthony to interact with anyone or anything. After retreating from the world for decades, he sees a glimpse of yellow that leads him to a musician, Teague.
At first Anthony is frightened and overwhelmed by the color, but he can’t stay away from Teague for long. He finds the courage to confront Teague and explain his unusual problem and Teague’s role in helping him. To Anthony’s relief, Teague believes him. Very quickly, they both realize that getting colors back may be more important to Anthony than his relationship with Teague. If Anthony pushes too hard, he’ll lose Teague, and possibly the colors, forever.
AMBER
By T. STRANGE
Excerpt
The next day, the colors started to blur.
I hardly noticed at first. Just the odd purple or green, up to their usual mischief. I would frown at them, and they would pop back. They were usually a bit prone to frivolity and playfulness, so I paid them no mind. I didn’t connect what was happening to the fortuneteller’s words. Not yet.
Then a blue, usually so solid and dependable, would start to shift while I was in the middle of a brush stroke. Or worse, before I had even gotten it out of its tube and onto my palate. It would just be gone, going from cobalt or aquamarine to a nonsense color, like pajamas or garbage. And all the scowling in the world wouldn’t bring those blues back.
I kept painting, stubbornly ignoring the fact that I was becoming deaf to color. It was worse than being blind. It was a catastrophe.
But this painting was a commission. I had to finish it.
I watched as, one by one, every shade vanished from my eyes, leaving me with a soggy mess of random hues that clashed and jarred and upset me badly. By the end of the day, they were gone.
I wish I could tell you that I now saw in black and white. What I wouldn’t give for a glimpse of clean black or pure white. My malady was far worse. I saw only muddy, indescribable, jarring concoctions of brownish-grayish-primordial-muckish tones.
When the painting was finished, or at least the canvas was covered in paint, I called my patron. He said that he would send someone to pick it up. The man, when he arrived, looked down his long, aristocratic nose at the painting and gave me a look like I was something nasty and squelchy he had found stuck to the bottom of his shoe. He began efficiently packing the painting into a box. He was so offended by the painting that he could hardly bring himself to touch it.
Already, I would have given almost anything to see what he saw in the painting. Even the most brutal, discordant visual cacophony, the most lurid, vibrant, glorious mess of color would have been a relief.
Even the tiniest hint of crimson. An echo of violet.
Not an hour later, my phone rang.
It startled me half out of my wits. I had been sorting and resorting my paints in every conceivable order, with increasing desperation, hoping that something, anything, would jar loose whatever was clouding my vision.
I picked up the receiver with an odd sense of faith, as though it would be God on the other end, and He would give me some arcane ceremony, some act of penance. It would be hopelessly complicated, but once I had performed it to His satisfaction, He would restore my sense of color.
It was, of course, my patron. I managed to tune out the individual words he said, but his meaning was clear. What is this shit you’ve given me? If you think I’m paying you, you’re mental. By the way, you owe me money. Click.
That was nearly a relief. If other people could see what a mess I had made, what a mess I was in, then I wasn’t just crazy. I had a genuine Problem. I wasn’t simply having some sort of temperamental, artistic breakdown. Problems could be solved.
About the author, T. STRANGE…
Strange is the author of several works, all published with Torquere Press. She and her wife live somewhere on the Canadian Prairies. When not writing, T. likes to spend her days gardening, watching movies and riding her horse. One of T.’s favourite possessions is a rainbow squid hat named Dr. Squiddington.
Links to T’s website, blog, books, etc.
Torquere Press
Blog
Goodreads
Tumblr
Amazon
~~~
**SPECIAL GIVEAWAY**: T. is giving away an ebook copy of AMBER to one lucky winner who comments on her Interview or Killer Book Bench blogs. Don’t miss this chance to read T’s new story. Thanks, T., for sharing your book with us!
